Reading That Novel

I promised myself that once school was over, I was going to read a novel. At the first opportunity, I ran to the library. I say first opportunity because the threat of Los Angeles county's impending bankruptcy has reduced city services. No, not the fire department or the police, thank G-d. But yes, the library hours have been cut.

Usually, I queue up to the "New" books shelve to see that strikes my fancy. I like thrillers, mysteries, action books. Then I saw it.

Entitled, The Locust and the Bird: My Mother's Story, by Hanan Al-Shaykh, it is, as advertised, her mother's story. Born and raised in 1930s Lebanon, Kamila struggled against being married at 14 to a much older former brother-in-law (husband of her departed sister), and love for another, much younger man named Mohammad.

Frankly, I couldn't put the book down. I'm ashamed to admit that I rushed through my Shabbat Tehilim reading (the entire book) so I could read this book. Finished it about 1:30 am this morning.

It was an engrossing and fascinating peek into the Muslim world and the fate of women in it. It was positive and upbeat, but filled with obvious sorrow that I found myself sighing at each setback. I enjoyed the book immensely. Recommend to all those who would like a good read.

A Little Reminder

When I was working out on campus the other day, I had to remove my earrings because each stroke of the elliptical brought a smack upside my head. It was obvious that I had not accessorized properly.

Then, wouldn't you know it,I left the earrings in the machine's cup holder, and dashed off to the shower, located by my locker, in another building.

But before I could get to the gym shower, I ran into an old friend, literally. We've shared a few classes together, but have since gone in different directions. With every sentence she spoke,she moved her head and her earrings moved as well. They were beautiful and I was mezmorized by them. I reached up to touch my own earrings and realized they weren't there!

I beat a hasty retreat back to the gym and retrieved them. When I told Maria about it, we both realized that the Creator has a way of sending us messages - in this case, a reminder, of what we need.

We, on the other hand, must be sensitive to these messages which can be so subtle we miss them. If I hadn't been paying attention, I quite possibly may have lost a pair of earrings I've had for years, all the more sentimental because they were made by another dear friend.

Definitely a turn on, tune in and drop in moment.

It's All Over

I can't believe I actually finished my last final today. Can't say I'm excited about it - I know I made a lot of mistakes. But now I can rejoin the human race. First, off to the library to get a NOVEL. Then a Jane Austen movie (love her, can't read her). Then who knows? Maybe make dinner for the kids, walk around barefoot. Gotta lot of options.

I have practically lived with my fellow students these past few days and now I miss them. I miss campus, I miss studying. And it's only been a few hours.

Hopefully, a few down days and I'll be back to being me. Then it's off to summer school. Can't wait!

When Friends Lose Family

It's been a disturbing weekend. Two school mates lost their fathers within 24 hours of each other - anticipated, but heart rendering.

Living their experiences reminds me of my own. The devastating loss of my parents happened again this weekend, at a time when I'm in the final throes of finals, world opinion is ready to lynch the Jewish state and Sholom Mordechai Ha Levi ben Rivkah (Rubashkin) is about to be sentenced for dubious crimes against the state of Iowa.

Don't ask. It's all good, I told my classmates. It's all good, I have to tell myself as well.

A Treasure Chest of Free Gifts

I went to a gathering of women saying Tehillim (Psalms) today in anticipation of the new Jewish month of Tammuz. Our guest speaker was a Breslover Chosid, and he has several things to say, but one of them really stuck in my mind.

He said that the world waited for the Torah to be given on Mt. Sinai in order for there to be clarity of purpose. After Matan Torah, or giving of the Torah as we call it, the world was defined, and everyone knew their place and what was expected of them. But what did the world do before Matan Torah?

Now here's the good part. It appears that G-d has a treasure chest of free gifts that He bestows on petitioners. All you have to do is ask G-d for what you need, in the form of prayer, and G-d's mercy knows no bounds. The supply of free gifts is never-ending, pointing to the infinity of the Creator.

Here's a story he told as illustration. Many years ago in Russia, a Breslover Chosid's wife gave birth to a child that was not well, and it didn't look good. The wife asked her husband to go to the Rebbe, Rabbi Nachmun, and ask for a blessing. When the chosid did ask his Rebbe for the blessing, Reb Nachmun said he could not - it had been decreed in Heaven that this child would not live. Broken-hearted, the chosid went home and told his wife.

The wife did the only thing she knew how to do: she pulled up a chair to the baby's cradle and spent the night praying and crying, beseeching the Creator to spare her baby's life. The next morning, when the chosid saw his Rebbe, the Rebbe announced joyously that the decree had been lifted, and that due to the merit of the wife's davening, the baby would have long life. That baby grew up and lived to be 100 years old.

The morale of the story: never lose hope. The Holy One is filled with mercy towards those worthy of it, and listens fully to our pleas.

Now, Hashem, about my finals. . .

We Con The World

It is my mission and vision not to politicize this blog, but when a funny video comes along, well, I'm not gonna pass it up because it makes a statement. Especially when I agree with it.

May G-d, in His Wisdom, grant us the calm we need to make this world a better place to live in.

Teamwork

The spring school quarter is almost over and I'm heading into finals. But first, I took time out to make presentations in two classes - presentations that required a lot of research, writing and performing.

Yes, performing. Standing up before classmates, giving over information, and looking like I know what I'm doing. That's performing.

None of this would have been possible without teamwork. My team included Maria (of course!), Moav, Priscilla and Sabina. The girls. Everyone worked hard and together.

In a few days, it will all be over. Moav will go to Israel for the summer, Priscilla will head north, Sabina will get back to work and Maria will finish up coursework at summer school.

Me, I'm off to community college to learn Spanish. Lazy days of summer, indeed.